Compartment-sealing mechanism.



Patented Aim 17', 1917.

2 HI [IF FF ank LT. MaTEhEITE' F.'J. MATCHET-TE. COMPARTMENT SEALING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 26 I915 InvE Oaade \A/ITHESE'E K 5 name HUT FrankLIMaTLhETE Elm-1E Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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FI'J. MATCHETTE." I COMPARTMENT SEALING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 26 1915 F. J. MATCHETTE. 1 COMPARTMENT SEALING MECHANISM.

v "APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26.1915- 1,222,966.

. W 5 F Wm ,M .m h v H m \A/iInE55E5 J5 F. J. MATCHETHTE.

COMPARTMENT SEALING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26.1915.

- Patented Apr. 17,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

JD 6 JC1 4:9 %0 J5 J7 Q A InvEnImr 1 1" ankLIMaTchETIE fin-cw- 5 TE srArs rn FRANK-J. MATCHETTE, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

OOMPARTMENT-SEALING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Application flled February 26, 1915. Seriai'No. 10,820.

To all whom it maycomem:

Be it known that 1, FRANK J. MATOHETTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Compartment-Sealing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact de scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to compartment-sealing mechanism.

' In solving the problem of giving improved hotel service and improved collection and delivery service, as set outin my co-pending applications Serial No. 844,622, filed June 12, 1914, and Serial No. 852,533, filed July 23d, 1914, of both 'of which applications the present case is in part a continuation, I have found that a sealed compartment is highly advantageous.

I employ the term sealed compartment herein to designate an inclosure having two room. of a hotel guest, or it may be employed indelivering supplies to a housewife or the occupant of an apartment, home or premises, in the general nature of a deposit and collection receptacle. In the former case I prefer to designate the compartment as a hotel service cabinet, and in the latter case I designate the compartment as a kitchen service cabinet. In the former case, where articles are to be transferred through the :sealed compartment in both directions, 'one type of mechanism is employed. In the second situation, in which the transfer of articles is required to be in only one direction,

a form of alternate compartment-sealing mechanism is employed. Both of these mechanisms broadly embody the same idea,

and I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of the upper portion of a hotel service-door cabinet;

means; I

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 11 of Fig. 10;

The sealed compartment .Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a kitchen Patented Apr.'17, 191v.

cabinet showing twocompartments open;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view of the hotel service cabinet showing the mechanism for securing the sealed condition of cabinet; r a

Fig. 4 is an isolated perspective View of the interlocking mechanlsm;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the interlocking mechanism for the kitchen cabinet Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to. I

Fig. 5 on theline 66 of Fig. 5';

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation ofthe left-hand end of the structure shown in; Fig. 5, having certain of the parts broken away to show the interlocking mechanism;-

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig.v 7 with the parts in a different position;

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the rotating cam-member;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken ,at right angles to Fig. 11 of a serv-' ice cabinet having compound interlocking Fig; 12 is a sectional end View taken Yon the line 1212 of Fig. 10; and,

Fig. 13 is a "milar view taken-on the line 1s' 13 of Fig. 10.

The object-of the present invention is to provide an improved sealed compartment. A further object of the inventlon is to provide improved interlocking means for interlocking the doors of a'compartment. Otherand further objects of the invention will appear as the following description proceeds.

Sealed compartment with simple interlock.

InFig. 1 I have shown a door 11 formed of the usual stiles and rails, but-having in place of the usual panels a cabinet 10. This cabinet is provided with oppositely-disposed entrances closed by doors 12 and 13. The

doors 12 and 13 are provided with locks 14 and 15, respectively (see also Figs. 3 and 4). These locks may be of the spring-bolt or of the throw-bolt type and may be operated by keys 16, which may be attached or may be removable. A pair of short shafts l7 and 18 are mounted in the casing 10 adjacent' the locks 14 and 15. Each of these shafts has secured to its end arms 19 and 20. The arm 19 is in each case a cam arm,

While the arm 20 is a hooked or detent arm. The hooked arm 29 of the shaft 17 is disposed on the same side as the cam 19 of the shaft 18. A spring 21 normally tends to held the arms 19 and 20 toward each other. These arms cooperate with the bolts of the locks 14 and 15. The bolt of each. one of these locks is provided with an inclined face 22 and a notched or slotted face 23. The cam arms 19 normally rest upon the inclined faces 22 of the looking bolts, preventing the detent or hooked arm 20 from dropping into the notches 23.

Assume that the bolt of the outside door 12 is withdrawn. The arm 19 thereof will be allowed under the tension of the spring 21 to close toward't-he arm 20. This rotates the shaft 18 and causes the hooked arm 20 attached to shaft 18 to enter the notch 23 on the bolt of the lock 15. The door 12 will then be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and it will be impossible to open the door 13, .as the locking bolt of the lock 15 cannot now be withdrawn, being held by the hook on the end of the arm 20.

An article may be deposited Within the compartment 10 and the door 12 will then be closed. As soon as the bolt is slipped back into place the inclined surface 22 will press down the arm 19 and will release the hook on the arm 20 from the bolt of lock 15, and thus both doors will again be free to open. Either one of the 'doors may be opened first, either before or after an article is deposited in the cabinet. The width of the notch or slot 23 is so proportioned with respect to the inclined face 22 that before the bolt is withdrawn from the casing the opposite bolt willbelocked. If it is at-,

tempted to withdraw both bolts at the same time one of the bolts, if it is slightly in advance of the other, may cause the locking of the other bolt and be capable itself of being I withdrawn. If the two bolts are withdrawn exactly simultaneously they will both be locked and cannot be released until one of the bolts is returned to the locked position. Thus, under no circumstances, can the seal between the two sides be broken.

I have found this type of sealed compartment, which I term a hotel service door, to be especially Valuable in allowing the transfer of articles to and from a guests room in a hotel. I shall now proceed to describe an alternately sealed compartment such as I employ in the kitchen cabinet.

Sealed compartment with alternate inter- Z067).

raaaaee and three lower compartments 28, 29 and 39, respectively. The upper cabinet 27 is provided for outgoing service and to that end may have a combination lock 31 or a removable key, which may be placed in the hands of the agent of the company collecting the articles placed in this separate compartment, such as the driver of a laundry wagon.

.vvhen all the compartments are empty and all the doors are closed it is possible to open the outside doors of the compartments 28, 29 and 30, and either the inside or the outside door of the compartment 27, the remaining doors being locked and interlocked. A purveyorfor instance, the grocery manmay open one of the compartments, as 29, and may place an article 32 therein. After the door is closed the same is locked and interlocked and cannot again be opened. The closing of the outer door 33 operates to unlock the inner door 34 in a manner to be described. The doors 33 and 34 are provided with locks 35 and 36. These locks may be of the spring-bolt or throw-bolt type and may be provided with attached keys or removable keys, as desired. A bolt 37 for each lock isprovided with an elongated perforation or slot 38 passing therethrough. A supplemental casing 50 secured in the casing 25 adjacent the locks 35 and 36 supports the locking bar 41 which serves as a catch or detent for the bolts 37 by means of hearings in the posts 39, which also furnish bearings for cam-members 40 (Fig. 9). The cammembers 40 are employed to move the look- ;ing bar 41 which slides in the bearings 39 locking bar 41 also carries a pair of pins 44 and 45, which are adapted to be engaged by the cam fingers 46 on the locking member 40 in turn. The interlocking bar is made of such length that it can disengage the locking bolts 37 of the locks only one at a time, so that if it is clear of the slot 38 in one bolt, it will have entered the slot in the other bolt and will therefore interlock said bolt. The interlocking bar 41 is prevented from turning by means of an extending pin 48, which lies in a horizontal slot 47. The slot 47 lies in a frame member or post 49, secured in the auxiliary casing 50. The cam-member 40 has extended bearings 51, which are supported in the auxiliary casing 50 adjacent the locking bolt of each lock, the other end of the locking member having a bearing in the post 39, as above explained. The locking member 40 is provided with a flattened ratchet portion 52, for engagement by a flat leaf spring 53. The leaf spring 53 always tends to move the cam member 40 in the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 8. This cam-member 40 also has an enlarged ratchet portion 54 for engagement with the locking bolt of the corresponding lock. The projecting pin 48 which plays in the slot 47 also extends into a diagonal slot 55 in a swinging lever. 56 pivoted on the shaft 57. The lever 56 has its ends bent substantially at right angles to form a target at each end for movement be hind a sight opening 58 on each side of the cabinet 25. This indicating mechanism forms no part of the present invention,, as the same is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 10,819 filed February 26, 1915.

Assume thatthe parts are in the normal position occupied when the compartment is empty. The locking bolt of the lock 35 will then be disengaged from the interlocking bar 41 andthe purveyor desiring to deliver an article is free to unlock the door 33 and to open the same and place parcels inside the compartment. As the bolt 37 is withdrawn it disengages the large ratchet por tion 54 of the cam member 40 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, so that the cam 40 may occupy the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 8. That'is to.r,say, the enlarged ratchet portion 54 is swung slightly about the center, so that if the bolt 37 is thrown back into place to lock the door the end of the bolt 37 will engage the side of the ratchet 54 and will cause the cam member 40 to rotate about its axis. In rotating the, cam member 40 about its axis it will pass through the position shown in Fig. 7, where the flat leaf spring 53 will snap the member after the same passes over the dead center, and will bring the end of the ratchet portion 54 down on top of the locking bolt 37.

to the full-line position shown in Fig. 8.

This rotation of the cam-member 40 has caused one of the cam arms 46 toengage the extending pin 45'and to slide the interlocking bar 41 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, to cause the end of this locking bar to enter the elongated slot 38 in the locking bolt 37 of the outer door. The purveyor thus having opened the door and deposited the article in the compartment and having closed the outer door, is unable to reopen it until some further action is taken by the housewife or the party who controls the other side of the cabinet to move the locking bar 41 from the interlocking position of engaging the bolt of the outer door to free the outer door for use in this manner. A second purveyor arriving after the first has put an.

' the-loss of the deposited articles by theft,

as might be possible if the outer door could be opened after the deposit of an article therein.

The signaling mechanlsm above mentioned aids in apprising the interested parties of the movements of the doors opening into the compartments, and hence indicates the occupied or vacant conditifin of a compartment. of the room controlling the inner door may remove the articles by opening the innerv door, the same having been unlocked by the movement of the interlocking bar 41 to the positionto interlock the outer door.

Sealed compartment having compo mid m terlock.

I have found that, in installations where the alternate interlock is employed, it is The housewife or the occupant often desirable to deposit another article once, but to prevent access being had to the premises through the cabinet, I employ the type of interlock known as the compound interlock.

In Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, I have shown an. embodiment of this idea, wherein the simple interlock and the alternate interlock are combined to perform the function above set out. The lock 35' on the outside door is provided with a double bolt 5859. The

'part 58' is similar to the bolt 37 shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, being provided with a square shoulder for engaging the, cam 40 and thereby causing the interlocking bar 41 to be moyed from'one position to the other. The bolt 58 is provided with a, slot, into which the end of the interlocking bar 41 is thrust. upon closing the outside door and throwing the bolt 58. The slot 38 is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 11 and 13. The part 59 of the bolt is formed with an inclined face 22, and is provided on the opposite side with a notch 23, which may be enga ed by the catch or detent 20. The inside 10c 36 is provided with a double bolt having parts 6061 corresponding to the parts 5859 of the lock 35 upon the outside door. It is to be noted, however, that the part 60 does not need to be provided with a slot, inasmuch as the interlocking rod 41 is cut oflt and does not at any time engage the bolt of the inside door. The bolt 60 operates the cam-member 40 associated therewith, by engaging the cam portion 54 and moving the interlocking bar 41 by ,means of the cam portions 46 and the pins 44, so as to withdraw the interlocking bar 41 from the bolt 58 after the inside simple interlock shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4;

the shafts 17 and 18 being, in this case, pivoted in brackets 62 and 63, secured to the casing 50.

The operation of the cabinet illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, is as follows:

Assume that the parts are in the position shown in the Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, which is the position that they will normally occupy when the cabinet or compartment is empty, the door having been closed last from the outside in order to remove the article- The housewife, or occupant of the premises, opens the inside door, this being possible inasmuch as the interlocking bar 41 does not engage the bolt 60'at any time, and inasmuch as the detent 20 on the right-hand side shown in Fig. 10, is held away from the notch 22, due to the bolt 59 being in the locking position and holding the arm 19 raised. The inside door now being open, a deposit of any article in the compartment may be made as desired, and the door is thereafter closed, the bolts 6l60 being thrown, either automatically or by action of the person closing the door. The upper edge of the bolt portions tilengages the lower part of the cam 54, which drops down, due to the spring 53 acting upon the same when the bolt 60 was withdrawn, and when this bolt 60 again returns to the locking position the cam member 54 is engaged and thecam member is rotated so as to cause one of the arms 46 to throw the interlocking bar 41 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 10. Movement of the interlocking bar 41 to the right releases the bolt 58 therefrom, so that the outside door may be opened, but, inasmuch as the interlocking bar 41 does not engage the bolt 60, and has just been moved to disengage the bolt 58, either lock may now be operated, but both may not be operated at the same time, in view of the simple interlocking mechanism, which engages the bolt portions 59-and 61. The compartment is therefore accessible to the housewife, either for the deposit of another article or for the removal of the article originally deposited, from the compartment, and access may also be had from the outside to remove the articles deposited. The mechanism in this condition operates under the control of the simple interlockmechanism naaaeee only; that is to say, access may be had from either'side, but as soon as'one door is opened the other is interlocked so as to keep the compartment sealed at all times. As soon as the outside door is opened to remove the article deposited in the compartment, the interlocking cam member 40 on the 'left hand side of Fig. 10 will be moved to cause the cam portion 54 to drop down under the influence of the spring 53, so that when the door is again closed'and the lock 35 operated by throwing the bolt portion 58, the cam arms 46 on the cam member 40 will drive the interlocking bar 41- to the left, as viewed in Fig. 10, and will cause the end of this bar to engage in the slot 38 in the looking bolt 58, thus interlocking the lock 35 so that the outside door cannot again be opened until the interlocking bolt 41 is withdrawn from the slot 38. Movement of the interlocking bar 41 operates the signaling lever 56 to set the appropriate signal infront of the sight openings 58.

ll employ the term interlock herein to designate the mechanism which will prevent a door from being moved so as to uncover an opening. It is to be understood that this term does not necessarily mean merely the mechanical locking of a throw bolt, or the like. I employ the term to designate the broad function of preventing a door from opening as desired.

In the forms of mechanism last described the doors or closing means for the compart ments are alternately locked and the compartment is sealed at all times; that is, at no time is there a clear path throughthe compartments, one of the doors being always in position to prevent a passage through the compartment to the other side thereof.

It is to be understood that, while I have shown swinging doors, doors of any type may be employed, and I employ the term door members to designate broadly any means which may form a closure for an opening through a compartment.

Modifications and variations of this structure will no doubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations I consider to come within the spirit and scope of my invention as described in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the. United States is:

1. In combination, a wall, a compartment formed therein, a front door and a rear door for permitting access to said compartment, locking means for said doors, and interlocking means for holding one door locked so long as any other door is unlocked.

3. In combination, a wall, a compartment formed in said wall, a pluralityof doors for allowing access to said compartment, locks" said plurality of doors will always be held-- closed when one of said doors is unlocked.

5.; In combination, a casing, a plurality of doors, a locking member for each door, and means interconnecting said locking members and operated by said locking members, said means allowing the unlocking of only one of said members at a time.

6. In combination, a pair of doors, a looking member for each door holding said door in closed position, and means to insure that the other of said pair of doors will remain closed while one door is unlocked.

7 In combination, a plurality of doors, a locking member for each door, and means preventing unlocking of theremainder' of said doors when. one door is unlocked.

8. In combination, a plurality of doors, a locking member for each door, and means connecting said locking members, said means conditioned by the .unlocking of one of said members to hold the remainder of said members in looking position.

9. In combination, a plurality of doors, a bolt for each door normally locking same, and interlocking means connecting said bolts, said interlocking means preventing the withdrawal of more than one bolt at a time.

10. In combination, a plurality of doors, a bolt for each door to hold the same in closed position, and interlocking means, for

each door having means to prevent withdrawal of said bolts, connecting means for each bolt of the remainder of said plurality of doors for releasing the bolt of said one door.

11. In combination, a plurality of doors, a locking bolt for each door, a catch for-each bolt holding the same in locked position, and a releasing member engaging another bolt, said member connected to said catch,

said releasing member moved by said other bolt when said other bolt moves to locking position to release the catch.

12. In combination, a plurality of doors, a locking bolt for each door, a movable member for each bolt actuated by its corresponding bolt, and a catch member connected to said movable member and movable therewith into and out of engagement with the bolt of another door.

13. In combination, a pair of doors, a locking bolt for each of said doors, a catch member for each bolt to engage the bolt and prevent withdrawal'of the same, and a ree catch member of the other bolt, said-releasing device being actuated by locking of the 14. In combination, a pair of doors,-.

p ll g door to release the bolt of the other door. Y v

. leasing device for each bolt connected to the 1f I ing bolt for each of said doors, a catch memf her for each boltjtoicngage the bolt and prevent withdrawal of the same, a'releasing device for each bolt connected to the catch member'of the other bolt,"said releasingdevice being actuated by locking ofthe corre-=' Y sponding door to release thebolt of the other 7 bolts, and means for automatically moving I door, another catch member for one of said the latter catch member into engagement with the corresponding bolt when the other door is unlocked. 15. In combination, a plurality of doors, a locking member for ,each door, a catchmechanism for each locking member, and catch-controlling mechanism for each locking member, the catch-mechanism of one door beingconnected to the catch-controlling mechanism of another door, said catchcontrolling mechanism being operated by the locking member of the corresponding 'door to move the catch member. of another door to releasing position.

16. In combination, a closed compartment,

a plurality of openingsfthereinto, doors for said openings, locks on said doors, said locks having bolts, cammeans for engaging the bolt of one,door,,and detent means for engaging the bolt of another door to prevent unlocking thereof, said detent means connected to said, cam means and movable into and out of engaging position thereby.

17. In combination, a closed compartment having a plurality of openings thereinto, doors for said openings, locks on said doors, bolts for said locks, said bolts having interlocking means for preventing release of both bolts simultaneously, said interlocking means having cam means for releasing said bolts one at a time.

18. In combination, a cabinet, doors for said cabinet, locking bolts for said doors, interlocking means for both of said bolts, for prevent-ing more than one door being unlocked at a time, and other interlocking means for preventing the bolt onone door being unlocked .until the bolt on another door is operated.

19. In combination, a cabinet, a pair of doors for. said cabinet, said doors having locking bolts, interlocking means for said bolts, said interlocking means being operable by the bolt on the inner door to release the bolt of the outerdoor upon movement of the inner bolt to locking position, and further interlocking means for preventing either door being unlocked While the other door is unlocke door, said lock having bolts adapted to be thrown into locking and unlocking position, said bolts having an inclined cam face, and an engaging shoulder or socket, a controlling arm adapted to cooperate With the cam surface of one of said bolts and a detent member for engaging the shoulder or socket of the other bolt.

21. In combination, a cabinet having doors on opposite sides thereof, a lock for each door, said locks having bolts adapted to be thrown into locking and unlocking position, said bolts having an inclined cam face and an engaging shoulder or socket, a pair of shafts in said cabinet adjacent said locks, each shaft carrying a controlling arm on one end adapted to cooperate with the cam surface of the corresponding bolt, and a detent member on the opposite end of each shaft for engaging the shoulder or socket of the other bolt.

' 22. In combination, a cabinet having doors on opposite sides thereof, a lock for each door, saidlock having bolts adapted to be thrown into locking and unlocking position, said bolts having each an engaging notch, a pair of controlling arms, {a pair of detent arms, each of the detentarms being adapted to engage the notch of the corresponding bolt and each of said controlling arms cooperating With the corresponding bolt to control the detent arm for the other bolt.

23. In a device of the class described, a cabinet having doors on opposite sides thereof, a lock for each door, each lock having a bolt, said bolts having each an engaging notch or socket, a controlling arm for each bolt, and a detent arm for each bolt, said controlling arm being operated by movement of the corresponding bolt to the locking po sition to disengage the detent from the notch or socket of the other bolt.

24. In combination a cabinet having doors on opposite sides thereof, a lock for each door, each lock having abolt, said bolts having each an engaging notch or socket, a controlling arm for each bolt, a detent arm for each bolt, said detent arm being adapted to engage said notch or socket, and. means for connecting each controlling arm with the detent arm of the other bolt, said controlling arm being operated by movement of the corresponding bolt to the locking position to disengage the detent from the notch or socket of the other bolt.

25. In combination,-a compartment, a plurality of apertures permittingaccess thereto,

movable closing means for said apertures, locking means for each of said closing means, detent means for engaging each of said locking means, and actuating means for naaaeee said locking means operable only fro n the outside of said compartment.

26. In combination, a casing, a plurality of openings therein, doors closing said openings, locking means for said doors, releasing means for said locking means operable from the outside of said casing only, and means governed by the operation of each door for controlling the locking means of another door.

27. In combination, a compartment, a plurality of openings permitting access to the interior thereof, doors to close said openings, a locking bolt for each door, and detent means to engage said locking bolts said looking bolts being operable only from the ex terior of said compartment.

28. In combination, a compartment, a plurality of openings permitting access to the interior thereof, doors for closing said openings, a locking bolt for each door, detent means for engaging the locking bolt to pre vent Withdrawal thereof, and means governed by the operation of one of said locking bolts for controlling said detent means.

29. In combination, a compartment, a plurality of openings therein, movable means for closing said openings, locking means for said movable means, and detent means for engaging each of said locking means when the same is moved to the locking'position to lock the corresponding movable means.

30. In combination, a cabinet, a door, for said cabinet, a locking bolt for said door, a detent engaging said bolt to prevent unlocking of said bolt, a second door, a locking bolt for said second door said latter bolt controlling disengagement of said detent and said first bolt.

31. In combination, a compartment having a plurality of openings for allowing access to the interior thereof, a door for each of said openings,'locking means for each of said doors, and interlocking means at all times for preventing the unlocking of all of the doors at one time, said interlocking means being. governed by operation of said locking means. 82. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of Walls spaced from each other, openings through said Walls, doors for closing said openings, locking means for each of said doors, and detent means engaging one of said locking means, said locking means being operable only from the outside of said doors.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of Feb, A. D. 1915.

FRANK J. MATCHETTE.

Witnesses:

PERCY R. KAUFMAN, RAYMOND T. ZILLMER. 

